Exercising apparatus



March 23, 1954 .1. 1.. WENTZ EXERCISING APPARATUS 3 Shegts-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1950 INVENTOR.

JERE L. Wzurz 2 flrromvsY March 23, 1954 J. L. WENTZ EXERCISING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed u 16, 1950 JNVENTOR Jam: L. WE/yrz March 23, 1954 J. L. WENTZ EXERCISING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 16, 1950 Fla. 7

||||l |||l.Il .l| .lllla llllllllllil INVENTOR. J5EE L. WENTZ Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXERCISING APPARATUS Jere L. Wentz, Passaic, N. J.

Application August 16, 1950, Serial No. 179,816

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to exercising apparatus and more particularly to a collapsible and adjustable exercising machine which may be accommodated to the needs and physical condition of the person using it.

An object of the invention is to provide an exercising device which is adaptable for use in diiferent positions and localities whereby different parts of the body may be selectively exercised.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercising apparatus having a pedal mechanism which is adapted to be positioned for use by a person while either lying in bed or sitting up, as in a chair.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exercising device which is adjustable to different positions so as to be operable at various angles in relation to the position of the person using the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exercising apparatus which has simple means for collectively and individually adjusting the resistance loads against which the person using the machine exercises his limbs and body.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exercising apparatus of simple construction which is collapsible into a single plane for convenient shipping and storage, and which is light in weight.

The features of novelty which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its fundamental principles and as to its particular embodiments, will best be understood by reference to the specification and accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the exercising device as it is operated by a person sitting in a chair with variations of position indicated in dotted outline;

Fig; 2 is a perspective view of a patient using the apparatus while lying in bed, with variations in position indicated in dotted outline;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the exercising apparatus showing the various elements collapsed into a single plane.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, partly in section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view, partly in section, taken on line 'I1 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and portion I6 of frame II is an inverted T-shaped leg Ii which has a cross-arm or bar It which swings between arms I2 and I3. Also attached to the ends of bar it are rubber or plastic friction cups l9. Frame II and leg I? are preferably I made of a light-weight tubular material, such as aluminum, or the like.

Leg I? is pivotally connected to frame II by means of sleeve 2| encircling said frame and having the free ends of said sleeve attached to the leg I! by means of bolts 22 (see Fig. 4). In order to maintain the relative positions of leg I7 and frame II, an annular groove 23 is provided in the portion I6 of the frame, and indentations 2d of sleeve 2| are accommodated in this groove.

The groove and indentations cooperate as bearing surfaces, and prevent lateral movement of arm H on the central portion I6.

Additional bearing surface is provided by a wooden or other block 25 held captive between sleeve 2I, the central frame portion I6 and the end of arm I1, said block being shaped to fit the curvature of frame II. Block 25 also serves to anchor leg I! in relation to the frame so as to prevent sidewise angular movement of the leg at that juncture. It is intended that this connection between frame II and leg I! shall be freely pivotal and, if necessary, lubrication may be provided by impregnating block 25 with graphite or the like.

Cross bar I8 may be connected to leg I! by means of screw bolt 26 extending through bar I8 and engaging bracket 2'! secured on the inside of leg IT by means of bolt 28 (see Fig. 5).

The pedal mechanism of the exercising device comprises a rotatable crank shaft 29 having offset portions 3I extending in opposite directions. Shaft 29 is connected intermediate the ends of leg I I by means of a pair of blocks 32 and 33 which are secured to the leg and to each other by means of screw bolt 34 and screw knob 35 (see Fig. 7). Recesses 36 and 31 are provided in blocks 32 and 33 respectively, to grasp shaft 29,

while knob 35 is intended to be manually adjusted to provide varying amounts of friction resistance against the rotation of said shaft, as desired.

Connected to each extension 3! of shaft 29 are pedal blocks 38 and 39, having recesses M and 43, respectively, adapted to grasp extensions 31 (see Fig. 6). Blocks 33 and 39 are held together by means of bolt 43 and wing nut dd. Frictional resistance between blocks 38 and 39 and extension 3! is varied by adjusting wing nut 44. Stirrup straps 45 to be engaged by the feet of the person using the exercising machine may be connected to blocks 39.

In operation, the exercising device of the present invention may be used by a person while sitting in a chair, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position, cross-bar i8 of leg [1 rests upon the floor, and since the ends of cross-bar 18 extend some distance from leg [7, a firm footing is provided for the apparatus, and cups l8 provide sufficient friction resistance to prevent the device from slipping. In this position, the ends it and I3 of frame it may constitute handles to be grasped in the hands while the feet are engaged by straps 415 of the pedal mechanism. Since leg [I and frame H are pivotable relative to each other, cross-bar [8 can be located to suit the individual or at the distance which provides the best exercise required for particular muscles of the body. Or, the operator may select the distance of the pedals from the body by holding frame H tilted forward or backward from the vertical, as shown by the dotted outline in Fig. Or, in another use, while the feet and legs of the person are working the pedal apparatus the person may, at the same time, pull and push frame I i backward and forward for the purpose of exercising the arms and back muscles while bringing into play different sets of other muscles.

Fig. 2 illustrates another manner in which the exercise apparatus may be used, especially while lying in bed, such as in a non-ambulatory case. In this instance frame 4! is tilted away from the person to form a brace for leg ll positioned at an angle thereto on either the floor or bed, with the pedal apparatus at the appropriate distance from the person for obtaining the exercise of the proper feet, leg, back and abdominal muscles, as th'e'case may be. Friction cups Hi, l5 and l3 serve to provide a firm footing for the frame and cross-arms so that there is no slippage while the apparatus is being operated in this position. Here again, the distance of the pedal mechanism from the person may be adjusted by moving the arms 12 and it of frame H farther or closer to'the position of cross-arm 18, or reversing the position of arms 12 and 13 with respect to leg ll, whereby more or less stretching may be required in the use of the machine, and these'diiferent positions bringinto play different sets of muscles which may be selectively exercised.

Depending upon the physical condition or requirements of the person, the frictional'resistance of the pedal apparatus may be adjusted either where shaft 23 is held by blocks 32 and 33 or at the pedal portions at blocks 38 and 38, or both. Increasing frictional resistance on shaft 29 increases the force required to be exerted by the leg, abdominal and back muscles in rotating the pedals, while increasing the frictional resistance on pedal extensions 3| increases the force required to be exerted by the ankles. Thus,

the exercising machine is adapted not only selec-- tively to exercise different parts of the body but also to vary the force of muscular exertion.

When not in use, the apparatus may be collapsed into one plane as shown in Fig. 3 so that it may be readily packed for shipping and may be stored in a small space; and the apparatus being constructed of few light weight parts may be readily carried from place to place.

In the specification, I have explained the principles of my invention and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles, so as to distinguish my invention from other inventions; and I have particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed the part, improvement or combination which I claim as my invention or discovery.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as will be clear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. An exercising apparatus comprising a frame, said frame having a central portion and two arms extending in the same direction at an angle from said central portion, a leg pivotally connected to said central portion, and being movable between said arms, a cross-bar connected perto the free end of said leg, at rotatable craniz shaft connected to said leg intermediate the ends thereof, a block connected to said leg and adapted to clamp said shaft, said block being adjustable to vary the frictional resistance applied to said shaft, two extensions on said shaft extending in opposite directions to each other, a pair of blocks on each of said extensions, each said pair of blocks being adapted to clamp an extension between them and to rotate around said extension, and a screw connecting blocks, said screw being adapted to vary the frictional resistance applied between said blocks and said extensions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a strap on each set of extension blocks, said straps being adapted to be engaged by the feet of a person whereby said crankshaft may be rotated.

3. An exercising apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a bearing block positioned at the juncture between said leg and said central portion whereby said leg is anchored firmly in position.

JERE 'L. WEN'IZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED 'STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 158,675 Longfellow May 23, 1950 2,190,895 Turpin Feb. 20, 1940 2,209,034 Paul July 23, 1940 2,238,295 Snyder .Apr. 15, 1941 2,388,777 Wentz Nov. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 703,048 France Feb. 2, 1931 

